And we have our first Disgraceful List of the season and the season hasn’t even started yet (really). I hate to say I told you so, so (stutterer!) instead, I’ll just quote the relevant text from earlier this preseason, “(Michael Pineda) is young so there’s plenty of time to see how well he adjusts. For now, I’m going to let someone else take the chance on him. What it really comes down to is it’s not very difficult to find solid starters, so there’s no reason to take unnecessary risk.” And that’s me quoting me! Zadow! I feel like I’ve exorcised a demon when I tell you to avoid someone and they bust. (Oh, and Rudy told you to avoid him too at his risky pitchers post.) It makes me feel so good. Schadenfreude! Can you feel my excitement? You know those struggling artists from touristy beach towns that draw caricatures in coal? I’m gonna hire one of them and one of those skywriting airplanes and have them draw a giant mustache in the sky above your house. I might also have the pilot wear a burlap sack. Why? Cause it’s a crazy person mocking you, that makes it even worse! Now, if you ignored our advice and drafted him, this was actually the best case scenario, because now you can DL him, before it looked like you were just gonna have to watch him in the minors while on your bench. Anyway, here’s what else I saw in spring training for 2012 fantasy baseball:

Andrew Bailey – Even with bad news, the Red Sox won’t accept being upstaged by the Yankees. Bailey hurts thumb, gives fantasy owners the finger. The injury could force him to the DL to start the season. Oh, won’t you stay healthy Andrew Bailey, Andrew Bailey? “Is it me or is this the news once a month for him, “Andrew Bailey has been cleared to start throwing.” Hey, Bailey, throw already!” That’s me quoting me from last year! It’s same shizz different day/month/year with Bailey. It was announced that the Sawx would turn to Aceves first if (when?) Bailey hits the DL. Then Bobby Valentine made a wrap sandwich, because he invented them and likes to talk about that.

Daniel Bard – Ended up being named the Sawx’s fifth stahter as he was Bard from the bullpen. Outside of AL-Only leagues, I’d be very cautious about trusting him. He’s a bit allergic to throwing strikes and by the fifth inning Valentine may bee pollen him. Take it, Highlights Magazine, it’s yours!

Juan Francisco – Was traded to the Braves to “temporarily” fill-in for Glass Chipper. In the offseason, I said I wanted to take off my Zubaz and wear all the Reds rookies (Cozart, Francisco and Mesoraco) as pants. Then I went caca-cuckoo for Cozart and Mesoraco for the next three months, but left Francisco alone because Dusty wasn’t going to play him. Well, guess what, over-the-Internet friend, Francisco just got himself some playing time! He has power to spare. Last year, he hit a ball out of The Great American Ball Park going about 500 feet. He’s also seen very few pitches he doesn’t like. If Chipper stays on his usual 180-day DL, and Francisco hits… Well, this won’t be the last time I talk about him. He could hit 25+ homers.

Ted Lilly – Will start the year on the DL. He could return to the Dodgers as soon as April 15th. We’ll see if by then the Dodgers are meeting at half court and kissing the opposing players on the cheek prior to games.

Allen Craig – To the DL. I wonder if he ever gets confused on government documents when he has to put his last name first.

Chris Carpenter – To the DL. You can backdate this three weeks. No word on its expiration date. I’m guessing we’ll see him sometime in June for a start or two then the issue will resurface.

Troy Tulowitzki – X-rays came back clean after he was beaned on the elbow by his ex-teammate Ubaldo Jimenez, which Tulo claimed was intentional. Sounds like they’re having a hard time putting behind them their *pinkie to mouth* Rockie relationship.

Wilin Rosario – 81, 97 and 91 aren’t the three highest IQs of Jersey Shore castmates. It’s the number of games Ramon Hernadez has played the last three years. Wilin hit 21 homers last year in Double-A and now he’s backing up Ramon. In 2 catcher leagues, I’d go ahead and add him in the landmark case of sooner vs later.

Mike Trout – Was optioned to the minors. Unless the Halos reacquire Kotchman and he gives the entire team mono, we’re not gonna see much of Trout until much later in the season.

Scott Baker – To the DL. Baker said, “I’d love to start the home opener; it’s just not wise.” Then Pringles dropped him from their endorsement contract.

Josh Hamilton – Has groin tightness and could sit out the rest of spring training so he can go when the season starts, then have this flare up again five or six more times during the season. Sorry to use “flare up” and “groin” in the same sentence.

Wade LeBlanc – Marlins optioned him to Triple-A. He’s hoping to resurface playing a funnier version of himself.

Kyle Weiland – Earned a spot in the Astros rotation. And what did you do this weekend, Eddie Vedder’s brother?! Huh?! Our prospect writer, Scott, wrote, “Weiland profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter. He had his chance at the big league level last year, where in five appearances he posted an ugly 6.55 FIP. He throws a low 90’s fastball along with a cutter, a curve and a changeup. I wouldn’t mind seeing him throw one of those fastballs at Grey’s head.” Hey, I didn’t remember reading that!

Livan Hernandez – He was released by the Astros, then two hours later showed up at the Braves training complex, and signed on to be a long man/spot starter. The Astros only train about 20 minutes from the Braves, but it took 2 hours? Hmm, sounds like Livan drives about as fast as he throws.

In a shallow, 10 team h2h, league with most of the talent snapped up in the draft and shortly after, which guys left would you suggest in shoring up some questionable spots on my roster? Aside from looking getting jobbed trying to work a trade before the season starts, that is…

I need more support at 3B than Freese, so after looking at my options on the FA wire, who, if anyone would you suggest I add?
– 2B/3B Ryan Roberts
– 1B/3B Edwin Encarnacion

Or, since I have Trumbo and he might only see “40 games”, should I just drop him for Gaby Sanchez, Lorenzo Cain, Cozart for some added offense?

I also have Vance Worley and am wondering it if is worth picking up Brandon McCarthy, Neftali Feliz (who’s likely to the bullpen), Colby Lewis, or Dirty Sanchez for another SP, or Chris Sale, Broxton, Brad Lidge or Addison Reed for a RP in his place?

from the out-start , melancon seemed the natural hand-cuff to bailey ,
but valentine is coming off a bit shaky .

hamilton reminds me of kg jr. , in that he gets hurt a lot by going
all-out , especially on the base-paths and in the field .
makes me wonder if it’s all part of the rangers’ master-plan NOT to
re-sign him , by insisting that he play center-field during these all
important spring training games .
obviously , washington does not have the brain-power or the authority
to do this on his own .
this has to be coming from higher up . (pun not intended) .

Deep league question: Grey or anyone … do you have a strong preference between Ruben Tejada, Eduardo Nunez, and Daniel Descalso as an infield backup? I need a guy to plug into SS or 2B when he faces a favorable matchup or when my starter is hurt of off or facing a serious ace.

Another good Razzball article! Gotta get my daily dose of fantasy info from this site. Btw, glad that I didn’t draft Pineda this year. Had him during the 1st half last year, then traded him, Crawford and Dunn for Votto in the 2nd half. Pitching for the NYY this year didn’t make him more appealing to me draft-wise either. I think the hitters in the AL East will prove to be a BIG challenge for him. Seattle should’ve kept him in my opinion. Still, for his sake I hope he isn’t a total bust this year.

@Tom, Thanks haha I’m also debating on trading all my starters for upgrades in Util + Closers/Relievers and just try to solidly win ERA, Whip, and Saves every week so we’ll see how my rotation looks after I decide what I want to do. Probably wait it out a bit since the season hasn’t even started yet haha

Glad I passed on most of the risky guys…or at least didnt overpay. Had my draft on Saturday. 12 team auction H2H 6×6 (hr, r, rbi, avg, sb, tb+bb+hbp and w-l, k, era, whip, h+s, Ip) 10 start max and have to have 5 starters and three relievers. Wondering what you think.

We moved from $300 cap to $260 this year. We keep 5 guys a year up to three years i kept Upton, Stanton, Jennings, Napoli, and Kimbrel). I think most teams didn’t plan very well because I made sure to not go crazy early (Pujols $51, HRam $40, Cano $44, etc) so by round 20 I was able to get pretty much anyone I wanted. I need a catcher and another reliever. Probably will drop Pena and Rios but I feel pretty good. One team went crazy on SP with 3 guys in the top 10 but his offense paid. Only spot I’m not really happy is at first. Might move Wright to upgrade but I like Lind. I think he will bounce back in average enough to make him a starter in a 12 team h2h league.

@Grey, I’m sorry, does that mean you would keep my team as is, or would you do the trade? My concern is I am short on SB’s and my starters are weak. What if I countered with Bruce for Price and Gardener?

@Grey, Ok thanks. Last one. It’s a roto league with 1350 innings cap. Since I need another starter does the deal make anymore sense? I’m concerned about K’s and adding another good pitcher + the SB’s from Gardener I thought made some sense. You think I can get good enough value from free agents to be competitive in pitching?

I was offered Starlin Castro for Trumbo. My current first basemen is Morse with Trumbo on the bench. My current SS is Dee Gordon with Yunel Escobar in reserve. Morse is opening the season on the DL. If I trade Trumbo I would have to pick up a 1B until Morse comes back. The best waiver option at 1B is James Looney.

Grey, I need a backup MI, preferably with dual SS/2B eligibility. I’m in a deep roster 12 teamer. Got any under the radar names of guys that are simply going to actually play, so I can plug ‘em in on my starters’ days off?

All the usual suspects are gone, Aviles, Lowrie, Murphy, hell even Willie Bloomquist is rostered.

That was a really classless thing to do by Ubaldo, but it’s opening week in baseball…doesn’t get much better than this.

I had my other $ league draft, was wondering what you thought of my roster. It’s a 10 team H2H 9×9…with TB, XBH, H, K’s for hitters added for offense, and L, CG, HD, and Blown Save added for pitching. Bit crazy, but fun.

I know that public leagues are hit or miss,but I usually join one or two because i like to be able to do a couple of early drafts,and I like to be in a a few leagues w/ different people than those in my regular leagues.

anyway,the commissioner of one league likes to talk s**t relentlessly(which I am mostly indifferent to)….but during the draft I went back at him and he apparently got his feelings hurt and promised that I would “regret it”.

apparently he really holds grudges and so now he is vetoing my perfectly reasonable trades w/no explanation and refuses to replace me w/ another manager.

its a yahoo h2h league….any ideas other than simply leaving the team inactive?

@Oilcan Giuseppe, I had that problem last year. Guy kept saying I was gay. I reported him and he was banned. If bad apples threaten or slur you they’re done, just make sure you don’t reply in kind or you’ll get ousted as well.

ESPN is projecting Geo Soto for 410 AB this season, and Ianetta at 344. They seem to me like interchangeable parts except for this huge gap in projected playing time. Is that all Ianetta’s manager? And if so, how trustworthy is it?

Anything I should look to improve on this roster going into the season in my dyno league Grey? I am punting 3B til HanRam gets eligibility or until the 15th, as I used all my acquisitions on pitching reinforcements. And no one would trade me for any of my 2B’s, so I plan on sticking them in my 2 UTIL spots for a while.

Yesterday afternoon heard about Bailey’s injury and swooped in and grabbed Melancon of waivers as he seemed the logical choice for vulture saves if Bailey hits the DL.

This morning saw that Aceves was now in line to get the saves if Bailey goes on DL and wanted to make the change of Melancon for Aceves but someone already beat me to picking him up off waivers.

Skip ahead a couple hours later and now reports are that Beckett might miss his first start so Aceves has been told to be prepared to take his place in the rotation till he’s back.

Can the season just start already (don’t count the Japan-AAAA games as any sort of an official start) so I don’t have to worry about crappy speculative two week closers and finally focus on some real baseball?

Also, what is with all the thumb injuries and Red Sox pitchers?

Some sort of Elephant Walk hazinig incident gone wrong?

As a Yankees fan I love to insinuate that the Red Sox players have their thumbs up their ass but they’re making it a little to easy now.

I am in a 20 team h2h dynasty league. I was offered Cano Gaby Sanchez and Alex rios for my fielder bourjos sano. I don’t mind losing fielder and bourjos, but giving Sano I am apprehensive. Does this trade make sense for me? What to do?

I finally had my draft over the weekend, and wound up with the last pick. The league is 11-team 7×7 (H and OPS added for hitters, K/BB and QS added for starters), Yahoo style but with 1 SP, 1 RP, and 6 P positions, so it’s easier to load up with elite RPs (which is what I tried to do). Here’s the team I ended up with (round in parentheses):

The league has a 1450-inning cap, so between Putz, Betancourt, Marshall, and Jansen, I think I’ve got a good chance to lead the league in ERA, WHIP, K/BB, and potentially Ks. I run the risk of punting Ws and especially QSs with this strategy, however. I employed the “sexy name” strategy when I grabbed Heyward in the 11th over less exciting names (though I still managed to grab boring Butler in the 13th). I think my most questionable move was grabbing Ellsbury with the 12th pick instead of Justin Upton or Carlos Gonzalez, but I knew that other speedy guys would be overvalued, and I think I made up for the power gap by grabbing Bruce in the 6th.

p.s. something I’ve noticed with auctions — it’s problematic to save money because the last of a tier of players is often more expensive than the first. i.e. Adrian Gonzalez went for more than Miguel Cabrera because Gonzo was the last of the top 1B put up for bid and there wasn’t the luxury of waiting for the next one. This happened the entire draft.

@Grey, I hate this offense. My power if not my risk are helped by the fact that I forgot Arod at the corner spot (and Espinosa at the MI spot). Nearly every spot is filled with risk — Hosmer, Heyward, Crawford, Morrison, and my entire middle infield. Seriously, what a mess. The auction was a train wreck.

@Grey, also, I know from this site that you disagree, but Shields turned a corner last year. Throwing mid 90s in the 9th inning, been a workhorse for a long time, I think he’s made that mid career pitcher transition that Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, etc. made. Even if his BABIP was lucky last year.

@Grey, in my 12 team H2H points keeper league, every decent SP’s value was super inflated in the auction and I stubbornly stuck to your rankings and pt. shares and gobbled up big bats left and right.

I need to make some trades for pitching, but in the meantime should I drop either Nolasco and/or D. Holland for Peavy/Vogelsong/Leake? I have lots of depth at SP so am mostly looking for upside. Thanks!

@Grey, @Grey, In regards to Frank Francisco’s injury, your most recent “Closer Look” you have the next in line being Jon Rauch and Ramon Ramirez. But in ESPN’s incredibly unhelpful blurb, they make reference to Bobby Parnell as the possible replacement. How is a guy who didn’t have a guaranteed roster spot suddenly the expected replacement? Do the Mets put that much faith in Spring Training stats? Or are they concerned that all of their Relief Pitchers are going to get hurt, so they figure they’ll skip all the fuss and just go straight to their 4th option?

I know I should wait to hear the results of Francisco’s MRI, but that won’t stop me from speculating who could be his replacement. Has your recommendation changed since Tuesday?

@Heraldo, Figured I’d add my .02 since I’m a fan of the man called Parnell. Who gets the 9th is anyone’s guess (but Parnell did some closing last year and has the most closery stuff as the baseball people say – meaning he throws really hard. Of course where the ball goes, nobody knows… In the Mets front office dreamworld, they’d probably like Parnell to step up and be the 9th inning man. Rauch has closed before, albeit not very well. Ramirez I think they’ll throw every day in the 7th and 8th until his arm comes off.

Not only is the update from the future (Aug 28, 2012), but the error can’t even be explained by being a year off, because Francisco was on Toronto last year, and even 2 years off because Neftali Feliz was killing it that year with 40 saves.

This just goes to show you, you can’t trust the internet. Or any other Fantasy Baseball website except Razzball.

Grey – I’m in a weird pool where you pick one player off of each team (can be anybody). There’s only 2 RP so picking the right 2 closers with the most saves is huge. There’s 80 people in the pool so if you lead saves by yourself, you get 80 points, however if there’s a glut of people behind with common closers they get the average position.

In a nutshell – which 2 closers do you think lead in saves?
Kimbrel
Rivera (then you can’t take Sabathia/ Cano)
Axford (then you can’t Braun)
others?
Also do you think Street or Motte could be a darkhorse candidate for 40+ saves?

(12-team – 23 man rosters) I currently have both Broxton and Holland (KC), is it worth hanging on to both of them to see exactly how it shakes out, or does it seem like Broxton has a firm enough nod that I should dump Holland for Lidge or Aceves who are both available on the wire.

Guys,
Don’t believe I need to repost my line up for this question:
I have multiple 3B and closers. Storen is my #3 closer behind Axford and Paps. Also have 3 other closers. I could use an OF bat.
Someone has offered me Josh Hamilton for my Aramiz and Storen.
Thoughts?
I see no difference between J Ham and Aramiz in their projections, except for their positions. Am I giving up in your opinion? I think so
This is a 5×5 league 12 teamer FYI.

In a 12 team keeper league draft where Matt Moore went for $26, Darvish for $20, Beachy and Leubke for $16 each, I got Anibal for $6! League-mates seriously discount guys who have crashed and burned in the past. My staff is Hamels, Hanson, Anibal, Fister, D Holland, Garza, and H Alvarez with Matt Harrison and Scott Baker on the bench. Feel pretty good about it … won’t win the ratios, but should place top 4 or 5 out of 12. Thoughts?

Thx. My offense should help me contend. Kept Tulo, Votto and Grandy and added Lawrie and Braun. Your fingerprints are all over my team. Avoided the Sagnofs and Donkeycorns. Took Reimold as 5th OF (aimed for pressley, got nipped, was gonna go yonder, but wanted better speed –Nolan is leading off). Just used a FA pick on Henry Rodriguez (dropped Rex Brothers), damn is he smoking hot right now, read the wash post write ups on his filfth. Took Adams and Lindstrom in taxi, had Putz and Thornton as keepers. Should be able to get a third closer out of that backup crew, no?

-What is the net effect of Votto locking down such a big deal before the season starts usually for a player of his caliber? Should B.Phillips be targeted since he’s not going to get the big deal and is going to shop around?

-Where can I download your podcast as I’m not an applephile (?)

-I’ve been trying to integrate gooftard into my everyday vocabulary but it’s not sticking according to ownership% : (

I’ve got a trade offer in my league (ESPN 12 team 5×5) that I’m stumped by. I had a weird auction, ended up with no closers, crappy staff and a lot of offense. Another player offered me Bumgarner, Motte, and Storen for either Upton or HanRam, and I don’t know if it’s the smart move. Here’s my roster

@Grey, What about Holland? And have you heard anything on the closer situations in: KC, WAS, & BOS? I’m trying to make the correct speculative adds, but these damn managers don’t seem to care about my fantasy team whatsoever…

And these guys are sitting out there as FA right now: Niese, Jurrjens, Worley, Bedard, Samardzjia.

…would you drop Stewart for any of them?

I’m just kinda wondering, generally, considering the season starts in two days anyway and I feel like my offense is pretty set — is it a better idea to align my team with what I think I need right now, i.e., try to catch early success with a pitcher, i.e., ditch Stewart? OR since, really, if Stewart (or Niese, or Worley, or Wells, or LaHair, or etc etc) does nothing for the first week of the year, then I’m going to drop them for whoever else is hot anyway — I might as well just stand pat and wait and see what happens week one?

Thanks, man, sorry for the long-windedness. Just been thinking about short-term strategy — value to my team now vs. value over the season — and curious what your thoughts are on how to balance that… ?

Drafted Hellickson with my last pick in my 8 Team H2H league hoping that maybe last year wasn’t a complete fluke, but after failed attempts to trade him preseason, I’m kind of thinking he could be useless. Would you drop him now for Fister, Wandy, Volquez, Liriano, Nose Job, or Filthy? I’m debating on dropping him now or at least seeing how his first start is, albeit it’s against the Yankees.

Writing of Chase “Bandage” Utley, when’s that bastard hitting the DL and giving me an open slot? Is there a date teams need to do this by? Maybe by Opening Day: Episode II – The Reckoning…

This spring, middle America is more confused than usual.

“I reckon this ain’t Openin’ Day, since they already played some games last week, Cletus.” “I reckon my grandpappy didn’t die in dubya dubya two just so’s we could hand our Openin’ Day over to Hero Heeto, Jebadiah.” “I reckon you’re right, Cletus… I reckon those games don’t really count, and today’s Openin’ Day after all! Hand me one o’them good ol’ American Miller Lites, will ya’?” Shoot… Miller was purchased by South African Breweries PLC ten years ago, so I reckon that means it ain’t an American beer!”

One more thing about the two games that took place in Japan that were apparently real major league games (someone told me that, I think they’re still full of shizz):

The A’s and Mariners are playing Spring Training games today!! How the hell do you go Spring Training –> Regular Season –> Spring Training –> Regular Season?? That makes absolutely no sense. Selig is such a moron. I only know this because apparently the Jesus took one off his noggin today and had to be removed.

@BigFatHippo, Haha. Damn Cardinals fans… I’m in southern Illinois surrounded by them! I just think it was way too reactionary. No one really cared that it was a tie. We all would’ve gotten over it. Selig = the FAA. They overreact to everything…one guy brings a bomb on a plane in his shoe…8 years later we’re all still removing our shoes before we get on a plane.

I’m not a huge fan of college basketball (though I do remember seeing MJ make The Shot on TV all those years ago), but Twitter tells me that, with the exception of 1948, every time Kentucky have won the national championship, the Yankees have won the World Series.